Patent application title: DUST COLLECTOR FOR DUSTER

Abstract:

The invention concerns a dust collector for a duster, and provides a dust
collector for a duster for sucking and removing dust on the bristle of a
duster. The dust collector for a duster in order to achieve the
aforementioned object of the invention is characterized in that it
comprises: a case having one side of a dual pipe type of an inner pipe
and an outer pipe and the other side provided with exhaust holes, and
also having a structure of transferring dust taken off the duster placed
inside of the inner pipe through openings provided on the inner pipe to a
filter with air and then discharging only the air; a fan provided in the
case for forcibly transferring the sucked air through the openings to the
exhaust holes to discharge it; and a filter provided in an air transfer
path in the case and for collecting the dust transferred with the air.

Claims:

1. A dust collector for clusters, characterized by comprising: a case
having one side of a dual pipe type of an inner pipe and an outer pipe
and the other side provided with exhaust holes, and also having a
structure of transferring dust taken off a duster to a filter with air
and then discharging only the air through only the air, the duster being
placed inside of the inner pipe; a fan provided in the case for forcibly
transferring the sucked air through the openings to the exhaust holes to
discharge it; and a filter provided in an air transfer path in the case
and for collecting the dust transferred with the air.

2. The dust collector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a
filter insertion hole is placed on one side of the case, in/out of which
a filter holding unit with the filter is inserted or pulled out, the fan
being positioned downstream of the filter in the air transfer path.

3. The dust collector as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that
the case is divided into two parts of a body having the dual pipe
structure and a holder in which the filter is equipped, in which the fan
is equipped and through which the exhaust holes are formed, the body
being positioned on the holder to be matched.

4. The dust collector as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the
lower end of the inner pipe of the body is closed and the upper end
thereof is open, and a closing plate closes the space between the upper
end of the inner pipe and the upper end of the outer pipe, the closing
plate being formed with through holes.

5. The dust collector as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that a
plurality of openings are formed along the circumference on both of the
upper part and the lower part of the inner pipe, the plurality of
openings formed on the upper and lower parts of the inner pipe being
arranged in a staggered way.

6. The dust collector as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the
openings formed on the lower and upper parts of the inner pipe are formed
to be long in a longitudinal direction of the inner pipe and the length
of the openings formed on the lower part is greater than that of the
openings formed on the upper part thereof.

7. The dust collector as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that a
plurality of air separators are formed on the outer side of the inner
pipe along the periphery in a longitudinal direction of the inner pipe.

8. The dust collector as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that a
plurality of through holes are formed in a longitudinal direction of the
plurality of air separators, respectively, each of the through holes
formed on the air separators being positioned at a different height from
another through holes formed on another air separators.

9. The dust collector as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the
filter holding unit comprises: a closing/opening plate for closing and
opening the filter insertion hole and provided with a grip at the front
side thereof; and a ring fixed on the upper part and on the inner side of
the closing/opening plate and having the same sectional area as that of
the outer pipe, the filter being fixed to the ring.

10. The dust collector as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that a
groove is formed on the periphery of the ring, and the filter being open
on one side to which an elastic string is fixed to be inserted into and
held on the groove of the ring.

11. The dust collector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a
sensor for sensing a duster is equipped inside the inner pipe to generate
electric signals and then operate the fan when the duster is inserted in
the inner pipe.

12. The dust collector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that an
ultraviolet lamp is provided in the case to sterilize the dust collected
in the filter.

Description:

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001]The present invention relates to a dust collector for a duster, and
more particularly to a dust collector for a duster for sucking and then
removing dust from the duster that absorbs dust by means of static
electricity.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002]A duster using static electricity is a cleaning tool for generating
static electricity easily to suck fine dust, which duster is widely used
because the duster efficiently removes dust using static electricity.
With the duster, the only thing a user has to do is to just wipe every
dusty place to remove the dust, even if the dust is in a place where it
is hard to remove it with a wet dust cloth, such as on electronic
products or books using static electricity.

[0003]Such a duster can be reused after removing the dust thereon when too
much dust is absorbed thereon because of repeated use. The dust absorbed
on the duster may be removed by shaking the duster in the air outside of
a house or washing it. However, such a method of shaking or washing a
duster has the following problems.

[0004]When the duster is shaken outside of a house in the air, the dust
scatters in all directions to pollute the surrounding environment and to
do harm to neighbors, etc. If such a duster is washed to remove dust, it
can't be reused until it is completely dried in order to generate static
electricity again. Accordingly, it is not an appropriate method of
removing the dust absorbed on the duster several times while using it.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

[0005]The invention was conceived to address the aforementioned problems.

[0006]It is an object of the present invention to provide a dust collector
for a duster constructed so that the dust taken off the duster can be
efficiently removed by forcibly sucking the dust, in order to remove the
dust absorbed on the duster.

Technical Solution

[0007]The dust collector for a duster according to the invention in order
to achieve the above object is characterized in that it comprises: a case
having one side of a dual pipe type of an inner pipe and an outer pipe
and the other side provided with an exhaust hole, and also having a
structure of transferring air and dust taken off the duster placed inside
of the inner pipe through openings provided in the inner pipe to
discharge only the air through the exhaust hole; a fan provided in the
case for forcibly transferring the sucked air through the openings to the
exhaust holes to discharge it; and a filter provided in an air transfer
path in the case and for collecting the dust transferred with the air.

[0008]According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the dust
collector is characterized in that a filter insertion hole is placed on
one side of the case, in/out of which a filter holding unit provided with
the filer is inserted or pulled out, and the fan being positioned
downstream of the filter in the air transfer path.

[0009]According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the dust
collector is characterized in that the case is divided into two parts,
that is, a body having the dual pipe structure and a holder on which the
filter is equipped, in which the fan is placed and through which the
exhaust holes are formed, the body being placed on the holder to be
matched.

[0010]According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the dust
collector is characterized in that the lower end of the inner pipe of the
body is closed and the upper end is open, and a closing plate closes the
space between the upper end of the inner pipe and the upper end of the
outer pipe, the closing plate being formed with through holes.

[0011]According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the dust
collector is characterized in that a plurality of openings are formed
along the periphery on both of the upper part and the lower part of the
inner pipe, the plurality of openings formed on the upper and lower parts
of the inner pipe being arranged in a staggered way.

[0012]According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the dust
collector is characterized in that the openings formed on the lower and
upper parts of the inner pipe are formed to be long in a longitudinal
direction of the inner pipe and the length of the openings formed on the
lower part is greater than that of the openings formed on the upper part
thereof.

[0013]According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the dust
collector is characterized in that a plurality of air separators are
formed on the outer side of the inner pipe along the periphery in a
longitudinal direction of the inner pipe.

[0014]According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the dust
collector is characterized in that a plurality of through holes are
formed in the plurality of the air separators in a longitudinal direction
of the plurality of air separators, the through holes formed on the air
separators being positioned at a different height from the other through
holes formed on the other air separators, respectively.

[0015]According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the dust
collector is characterized in that the filter holding unit is used to
close and open the filter insertion hole, the unit comprising a
closing/opening plate provided with a grip on the outer side thereof and
a ring fixed to the closing/opening plate and having the same sectional
area as that of the outer pipe, the filter being held on the ring.

[0016]According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the dust
collector is characterized in that a groove is formed on the periphery of
the ring, and the filter being open on one side to which an elastic
string is fixed to be inserted into and held in the groove of the ring.

[0017]According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the dust
collector is characterized in that a sensor for sensing a duster is
equipped on the inner side of the inner pipe to generate electric signals
and then operate the fan when the duster is inserted into the inner pipe.

[0018]According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the dust
collector is characterized in that an ultraviolet lamp is provided in the
case to sterilize the dust collected in the filter.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

[0019]With the dust collector for a duster according to invention, it is
possible to remove dust on bristles of a duster easily and efficiently.

[0020]In particular, since it is easy to remove dust attached on the
bristles of a duster inside of a house, the problem can be avoided,
arising in taking off dust on a duster outside the house to annoy
neighbors.

[0021]Since, by means of powerful suction of the dust collector, the dust
taken off a duster is collected directly in the filter, it is possible to
remove dust efficiently, and possible to prevent dusters and surroundings
from being polluted again if the dust flies in all directions.

[0022]Also, since numerous germs, ticks, etc., included in the dust are
killed in addition to removal of the dust according to the invention, the
inventive dust collector can advantageously prevent atopic dermatitis,
asthma, nasal inflammation, etc. caused thereby.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023]These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent from the following description,
illustrated in the appended drawings, in which like components are
referred to by like reference numerals. The various features of the
drawings may not be to scale. In the drawings:

[0024]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a dust collector for a duster
according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0025]FIG. 2 is a profile of the dust collector for a duster shown in FIG.
1;

[0026]FIG. 3 is a top view of the dust collector for a duster shown in
FIG. 1;

[0027]FIG. 4 is a cross section of the dust collector for a duster shown
in FIG. 1;

[0028]FIG. 5 is an exploded and perspective view of a filter holding unit
shown in FIG. 2;

[0029]FIG. 6 is a lateral view of the filter holding unit shown in FIG. 5;

[0030]FIG. 7 is a cross section of the filter holding unit shown in FIG.
6; and

[0031]FIG. 8 is a profile of a dust collector for a duster further having
an ultraviolet lamp according to another embodiment of the invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0032]Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a dust collector for a duster
according to the invention will be described in detail with reference to
the accompanying drawings.

[0033]In the drawings, FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a dust
collector for a duster according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG.
2 is a profile of the dust collector for a duster shown in FIG. 1 and
FIG. 3 is a top view of the dust collector for a duster shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a cross section of the dust collector for a duster shown in
FIG. 1 and FIG. 5 is an exploded and perspective view of a filter holding
unit shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 6 is a lateral view of a filter holding unit
shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 7, is a cross section of a filter holding unit
shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a profile of a dust collector for a duster
further having an ultraviolet lamp according to another embodiment of the
invention.

[0034]As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a dust collector 100 for a duster
according to the invention comprises a dual pipe type body 110 having an
inner pipe 120, an outer pipe 130 and a closing plate 140 placed between
the inner pipe 120 and an outer pipe 130 and having through holes 141,
wherein the inner pipe has a plurality of openings 12 IH and 12 IL and
the lower end of the inner pipe 120 is closed, a holder 150 in which the
lower end of the outer pipe 130 of the body 110 is inserted, and having,
at its lower end, a fan 180 for sucking air from the body 110 and
discharging it toward the lateral direction, and a filter 190 placed
between the fan 180 and the body 110, the fan 180 being positioned in the
holder 150.

[0035]When the fan 180 is actuated while the duster 1 is inserted in the
inner pipe 120, dust on the duster 1 and taken off the duster 1 passes
the space between the inner pipe 120 and the outer pipe 130 through the
openings 121H and 121L of the inner pipe 120 and then moves towards the
fan 180. The dust is then collected in the filter 190 but air passes
through the filter 190 to be discharged through the exhaust holes 153
formed on a side of the holder 150.

[0036]In the dust collector 100 for a duster constructed as such, the body
110 and the holder 150 function as a case of the dust collector 100 for a
duster, and may be formed separately or be integrated, as described
herein below.

[0037]Now, the dust collector 110 for a duster having a structure as
described above will be described in more detail.

[0038]As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the body 110 is shaped a dual pipe having
an inner pipe 120 and an outer pipe 130. The upper part of the inner pipe
120 is open and the lower part thereof is closed. An infrared sensor 105
is equipped on the inner side of the inner pipe 120 to allow a user to
check whether a duster 1 is inserted in the inner pipe 120 through the
upper part of the inner pipe 120. If inserted, the sensor 150 generates
accordingly electric signals.

[0039]Also, the inner pipe 120 is formed with a plurality of hexagonal
openings 121H, 121L. The hexagonal openings 121H, 121L are formed long in
the longitudinal direction of the inner pipe 120 for 3 openings to be
placed in a staggered way on the upper and lower parts, respectively,
along the circumference of the inner pipe 120. Here, preferably, the
length of the openings 121L formed on the lower part of the inner pipe
120 is greater than that of the openings 121H formed on the upper part
thereof. The reason for the greater length of the openings 121L on the
lower part than that of the openings 121H on the upper part is because,
when air is sucked in the fan 180, the air flows downward and more dust
taken from the duster 1 can thus pass through the openings 121L on the
lower part than the openings 121H on the upper part. The closed lower end
of the inner pipe 120 is shaped a cone whose vertex is oriented toward
the upper part of the pipe 120. The reason of the cone-shaped lower part
of the inner pipe 120 is to induce air flowing in the longitudinal
direction of the inner pipe 120 to flow in all directions along the lower
side of the conical shape, in order to reduce noise occurring in the
inner pipe 120.

[0040]On the outer side of the inner pipe 120 constructed as such, as seen
in FIGS. 2 and 4, 3 air separators 125 are fixed to be long in the
longitudinal direction of the inner pipe 120 spaced by 120° along
the circumference. The air separators 125 guide the air flowing out of
the openings 121H, 121L to flow it downward. If there are not provided
the separators 125, the air from the openings 121H, 121L collides in the
space between the inner pipe 120 and the outer pipe 130 thus to form
turbulence. However, since the air separators 125 are fixed between the
openings 121L on the lower part, the air passing through the openings
121H, 121L flows downward along the air separators 125. Therefore,
turbulence is not formed to significantly reduce noise, and it is
possible to prevent the dust collected in the filter 190 from floating by
means of turbulence. The air separators 125 which function as such have a
plurality of through holes 127 in a longitudinal direction. The through
holes 127 in one air separator 125 are not placed at the same level as
those in another air separators 125 and are thus formed in a staggered
way one another.

[0041]In the meantime, the inner pipe 120 is placed on the inner side of
the outer pipe 130. The upper parts of the inner pipe 120 and the outer
pipe 130 are closed by a closing plate 140. The closing plate 140 has the
same diameter as that of the outer pipe 130, and has a hollow, in the
center of the plate 140, having a diameter the same as that of the inner
pipe 120. The plate 140 is formed to have a plurality of through holes
141 along the circumference of the closing plate 140. Therefore, the
inner pipe 120 and the outer pipe 130 are coupled and thus integrated by
means of the closing plate 140.

[0042]A step 131 is formed on the lower part of the outer pipe 130 along
its circumference. The step 151 formed on the holder 150 is engaged with
the step 131 on the outer pipe 130. Therefore, the body 110 can stand on
top of the holder 150 for storage.

[0043]On one side of the holder 150, a filter insertion hole 160 is
formed, which has a size in a horizontal direction corresponding to a
half of the diameter of the holder 150. Under the filter insertion hole
160, exhaust holes 153 are formed along the circumference of the holder
150. On the inner side of the holder 150, a fan 180 is equipped. The fan
180 is positioned at a place under the filter insertion hole 160 but
above the exhaust holes 153. Therefore, when the fan 180 is activated,
the air flowing into the space between the inner pipe 120 and the outer
pipe 130 through the through holes 141 on the closing plate 140 and the
openings 121H, 121L, of the inner pipe 120 passes through the fan 180 and
is then discharged to the outside through the exhaust holes 153.

[0044]In the path where the air moves, the filter 190 is placed.

[0045]The filter 190 is inserted in the filter insertion hole 160 formed
on the holder 150 and then positioned inside of the holder 150, while
equipped in the filter holding unit 170.

[0046]Now, the filter 190 and the filter holding unit 170 will be
described.

[0047]As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the filter 190 is one of a cup-shaped HEPA
filter or air conditioning filter made of fiber such as non-woven fabric.
In case of a non-woven fabric filter 190, an elastic string 191 is fixed
at the entrance of the filter 190 which is in turn equipped by fitting
the elastic string 191 on the filter fixing unit 170. In case of a HEPA
filter not shown, a ring-shaped bracket is fixed around the HEPA filter,
and the bracket is embodied to be held on the filter fixing unit 170.

[0048]Now, as an example, a non-woven filter provided with an elastic
string will be described.

[0049]The filter fixing unit 170 is structured to be shaped a half
cylinder cut in half in a vertical direction to open/close the filter
insertion hole 160, and comprises a closing/opening plate 171 provided
with a grip 173 at the front and a ring 175 fixed to the inner side and
on the upper part of the closing/opening plate 171. The ring 175 has a
groove 177 formed along its circumference. The elastic string 191 is
stretched in the groove 177 so that the filter 190 can be supported to be
on the lower part of the ring 175.

[0050]When such a filter fixing unit 170 configured as described above is
inserted in the filter insertion hole 160, the filter 190 is placed under
the ring 175, and the air flowing from the upper part toward the lower
part of the body passes through the filter 190, fine dust being thus
collected in the filter 190.

[0051]In the meantime, when the filter fixing unit 170 is inserted in the
filter insertion hole 160, the ring 175 is placed in the holder 150. In
this case, in order for the ring 175 to be stably placed, a stop 155 for
supporting the ring 175 is formed on the inner side of the holder 150
along the inner circumference of the holder 150.

[0052]The holder 150 constructed as described above has a structure to be
gradually wider from the upper part toward the lower part, so that it has
a stable structure when it stands on a floor. A control unit 101 is
equipped inside the holder 150. The control unit 101 operates the fan 180
according to the signals inputted from the infrared sensor 105. It is
also possible for a user to operate the fan 180 by means of the input
panel 103 equipped on the outer side of the holder 150, independently of
the infrared sensor 105.

[0053]As shown in FIG. 8, it is also possible to sterilize the dust
collected in the filter 190 by further providing an ultraviolet lamp,
preferably between the lower part of the inner pipe 120 and the filter
190. The ultraviolet lamp 200 operates according to the signal sent from
the infrared sensor 105 like the fan 180, or can operate through the
input panel 103 equipped on the outer side of the holder 150,
independently of the infrared sensor 105.

[0054]Now, the operation of the dust collector for a duster constructed as
described above will be described.

[0055]While power is supplied to the dust collector, a user inserts the
duster 1 in the upper part of the body 110, namely the inner pipe 120
from its top. The infrared sensor 105 then recognizes insertion of the
duster 1 and outputs electric signals. The output electric signals are
sent to the control unit 101 which in turn operates the fan 180, or both
of the fan 180 and the ultraviolet lamp 200 according to the input
signals.

[0056]When the fan 180 starts to operate, the air in the body 110 is
sucked toward the lower part where the fan 180 is placed, and then passes
through the filter 190 to be discharged to the outside through the
exhaust holes 153.

[0057]After the user puts the duster 1 inside the inner pipe 120 of the
dust collector, he turns round the grip of the duster like twirling
something with both hands to take off the dust on the bristle of the
duster 1. In this case, when the user turns round the duster 1, the
bristle on the duster 1 rotates at an accelerated state by means of
centrifugal forces and the accelerated and rotating bristle hits the
edges of the openings 121H, 121L. That is, rotating the duster 1 inserted
in the inner pipe 120 impacts the bristle on the duster 1 to take off the
dust on the bristle.

[0058]Also, if an ultraviolet lamp 200 is provided, germs, ticks, etc.,
included in the dust are effectively be killed by means of ultraviolet
rays.

[0059]The dust taken off the duster 1 moves along the air flow.

[0060]Now, the principle of the air flow will be described in detail.

[0061]When the fan 180 sucks air, the air inside the inner pipe 120 flows
between the inner pipe 120 and the outer pipe 130 through the openings
121H, 121L. The air from the outside is led in the space between the
inner pipe 120 and the outer pipe 130 through the through holes 141 on
the closing plate 140. The air led in the space between the inner pipe
120 and the outer pipe 130 moves downward along the air separator 125,
and then passes through the ring 175 of the filter fixing unit 170 to be
led in the filter 190. The air led in the filter 190 passes through the
filter 190 by means of suction of the fan 180, and the air passing
through the filter 190 is discharged to the outside through the exhaust
holes 153 on the holder 150.

[0062]The dust flowing together with the air is collected in the filter
190 on the way through the filter 190 and sterilized by means of
ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet lamp 200.

[0063]When the duster 1 is pulled out of the inner pipe 120, the infrared
sensor 105 senses it and sends a different type of electric signals to
the control unit 101. The control unit 101 then interrupts operation of
the fan 180, or both of the fan 180 and the ultraviolet lamp 200.

[0064]The dust taken off the duster 1 is collected in the filter 190 by
means of the action of the dust collector 100 for a duster which operates
as described above. When the filter 190 is filled with dust, a user can
take out the filter fixing unit 170 to remove the dust collected in the
filter 190, washing or replacing the filter 190 then easily to install it
again.

[0065]The present invention has been described in detail. However, it
should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples,
while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way
of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the
spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled
in the art from this detailed description.

[0066]Use of the verb "comprise" and its conjugations does not exclude the
presence of elements other than those stated in a claim. The article "a"
or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality
of such elements.

[0067]The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually
different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these
measures cannot be used to advantage.